Advocacy

June updates on Medicaid cuts, CDMRP research funding, and telehealth bills impacting the hydrocephalus community. Make your voice heard on the Hill!

President’s FY 2026 budget proposes major NIH cuts, agency mergers, and restructures that could reduce neuroscience and hydrocephalus research funding.

House passes bill with major Medicaid changes—millions could lose coverage. Learn how this impacts the hydrocephalus community and what’s next in the Senate.

Learn how proposed federal Medicaid changes could affect people with hydrocephalus, including burdensome administrative requirements, cuts to vital health services, home care, and coverage for medical equipment.

Congress has returned to Capitol Hill following Easter recess and is beginning the reconciliation process for a major legislative package. Big decisions are being made — and we have everything you need to know.

Get the latest federal updates on hydrocephalus research, advocacy, and policy changes. Learn how you can take action to protect critical funding and healthcare access!

House and Senate Republicans have been focused on passing the Administration’s priorities. The Senate approved a billion-dollar budget framework focusing on defense and border enforcement funding. On the other side of the Capitol, the House recently passed its own budget framework. This package is wider in scope and costs.

The Hydrocephalus Association brought over 50 key leaders from the hydrocephalus community to advocate for change by meeting with their congressional representatives on Capitol Hill.

The 119th Congress is in full swing. Republican leadership is zoned in on crafting a large legislative package that includes key priorities around tax, immigration, and budgetary issues. The package will likely go through a process called reconciliation, which allows certain budget-related bills to bypass the 60-vote filibuster in the Senate.

2024 was a year full of legislative accomplishments for the Hydrocephalus Association and the broader hydrocephalus community. Our successes could not have been achieved without the hard work of advocates from across the country. Partners in Congress were some of the strongest contributors for our mission as well.

The House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee’s November 20th hearing discussed global brain health challenges, focusing on hydrocephalus in developing countries. Experts, including Dr. Benjamin Warf of NeuroKids, highlighted the need for better care and training to support patients, particularly in low-resource regions. The hearing also addressed the lack of USAID programs for brain health and the importance of international aid for hydrocephalus treatment.

Washington, D.C. is buzzing as Congress pushes key legislation and the Hydrocephalus Association partners with advocates to drive priorities forward. With government funding set to expire on December 20th, a short-term resolution is likely. The new presidential administration and Congress will bring major changes, especially in the first 100 days. Stay tuned!

As Medicare beneficiaries navigate through the open enrollment period, it is crucial for them to understand the surplus of 2025 changes as they choose a new Medicare insurance plan. The Medicare Open Enrollment Period began on October 15 and will close on December 7th. 

As healthcare advocates race to secure passage of critical bills before the end of the 118th Congress, the Hydrocephalus Association (HA) is joining forces on Capitol Hill, advocating for vital legislation to support Medicare coverage for breakthrough devices, strengthen the medical workforce, ensure fair billing practices, fund brain research, and raise hydrocephalus awareness.